Bev Wright, RN, left, and
Jackie Shelley, RN, right,
with The Bellevue Hospital’s Community
Services
Department, assist Geri Ware in preparing
her
Link to Life capsule. The capsule,
containing
important emergency medical information,
is stored in a door of your kitchen
refrigerator.
Medical personnel are trained to look for
the
capsule in times of emergency.

One of the most difficult things to do during a
period of personal crisis is to think, speak and act
clearly, especially if it’s a medical emergency.

A new program being offered through The
Bellevue Hospital (TBH) aims to help have medial
information readily available to you and the medical
personnel if they are called to your home during an
emergency situation.

The “Link to Life” program offers
residents an opportunity to store their emergency
medical information in a “link to life” container
stored in the door of your refrigerator. When
medical personnel arrive for an emergency situation
at your home, they are trained to look in the
refrigerator door for this important medical
information, information that may ultimately help to
save your life.

“During an emergency, it can sometimes
be difficult for medical technicians to get the
necessary information they need to deliver
appropriate care in a timely manner,” explained Peg
Natole, leader of TBH’s Community Services
Department. “The link to life provides a simple and
effective way to communicate with medical personnel
during an emergency.”

The “Link to Life’ is available free of
charge at several locations in and around Bellevue,
during normal business hours, including the
Concierge Desk at TBH, 1400 W. Main St.; Bellevue
Community Center, 110 Cherry Boulevard; Bellevue
Police Station, 3000 Seneca Industrial Parkway;
Bellevue Fire Department, 110 Southwest Street;
Bellevue North Central EMS Station, 150 Yorkshire
Place; and the Sandusky County EMS Office, 2100
Countryside Drive, Fremont.

When requesting a “Link to Life”
container, residents will be given the
orange-colored pill-type container with lid, and a
Link to Life Information Sheet. The front side of
the sheet goes over all of the instructions and
guidelines for using the vial, while the flip side
has room for name, emergency contact information,
insurance information, a section to list special
medical concerns and/or diagnoses, immunization
record, and a section to list all current
medications you are currently taking.

The form was developed with input from
local emergency management agencies. Additional
forms for family members, or so you may update your
information, may be downloaded below:

Click on the
graphic above to download the form.

For additional information on the “Link
to Life” program, or to schedule a talk on “Link to
Life” for your club, group or organization, contact
Jackie Shelley, TBH Community Services, at
419.483.4040, Ext. 6610.